lOO MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



It should be so packed that breakage or leakage is impossible, 

 particularly when infectious material is to be transported. 



Concerning the transmission of materials containing bacteria 

 in the mails, the ruling of the post-office department of the 

 United States, March 2, 1900, is as follows: 



"That the order of the Postmaster General of December 27, 1897 (Order 

 No. 677), amending Order No. 88 of February 5, 1896, prescribing the condi- 

 tions under whifh specimens of diseased tissues may be admitted to the mails 

 is hereby further modified in the following manner: 



"Specimens of diseased tissues may be admitted to the mail for transmission 

 to United States, State, or municipal laboratories, only when enclosed in mailing 

 packages constructed in accordance with the specifications hereinafter enu- 

 merated: Liquid cultures, or cultures of microorganisms in media that are fluid 

 at the ordinary temperature (below 45° C. or 113° F.) are unmailable. Such 

 specimens may be sent in media that remain solid at ordinary temperatures. 



"Upon the outside of every package shall be written or printed the words 

 'Specimen for Bacteriological Examination. This package to be treated as 

 letter mail.' No package containing diseased tissue shall be deKvered to any 

 representative of any of said laboratories until a permit shall have first been 

 issued by the Postmaster General certifying that said institution has been 

 found to be entitled, in accordance with the requirements of this regulation, 

 to receive such specimens." 



The regulation includes not only cultures, but "specimens of 

 diseased tissues." The specifications prescribing the manner 

 of packing, which are minute and complicated, may be ob- 

 tained from local postmasters. 



